Rishi to announce emergency measures

The Chancellor should be announcing a comprehensive support package that looks to mitigate some of the costs being borne by the public. But as ever, ministers who are detached from reality are too busy fighting amongst themselves to actually bring something useful both now and in the longer term. What we should expect is some more warming words of encouragement that don't pay the heating bills, and some disconnected small measures that hit a few people and miss plenty of others. I fear for a range of charities and small businesses that I know, who are being squeezed from so many angles it's becoming unsustainable, and that is peoples livelihood and support that is under threat.

I agree with Rishi that the government can't solve everyone's problems all the time, and that some of what is happening are international problems. However the government has been too slow to use some of the huge tools at its disposal. There are many things they could do to help people cope with rampant inflation. Personally I think that they should focus on some substantial tax cuts (particularly in fuel and energy) which could help consumers and businesses and stimulate the real economy. One offs and giveaways will help in the short term but not do much to solve the problem.

Rishi desparately needs to rediscover his mojo. The emerging cost of living crisis has been like watching a slow motion car crash. The government has been slow to act and needs to do more. I'd like to see a reduction in business rates - a perverse tax which disincentives enterprise and punishes small businesses. VAT is also too high and disproportionately affects the poorest in our society.

"It's great to see Rishi Sunak finally announce that the oil companies will take a hit on their profits in order to support everyday people. The financial support is welcome, as it's brutal right now, but it's unlikely to boost sentiment and that will mean people will continue to avoid spending, something that could be be devastating for small businesses. At Smallkind, orders have halved in the last couple of months and the brands we stock are experiencing similar falls. This year will be make or break for many small businesses so news of further energy price rises is really concerning, despite the support package announced by the Chancellor."

We have been waiting for them to give SOME kind of message beyond "wait and see", so I should be pleased. Sadly, with their current track record, I can only imagine that this will be some token measure designed to irritate and distract from their law-breaking during lockdown. I have no confidence at all in these people to do anything for the public good. Maybe removing their expense allowances and subsidised catering would claw back some money for those who need it most. My business during the pandemic surprised me by doing okay. Now? I probably have a couple of months left unless something drastic changes for the better.

If I was a cynic I'd believe the Governments timing of emergency measures was a sideshow to distract from other 'policitical' ongoings with number 10 but as I'm not a cynic (!) I welcome any and all help those in power seek to give us little people. Allowing soaring profits at giant multinationals who pay very little into the UK tax system whilst penalising the poorest in society with raging food and energy prices is nothing short of criminal. I hope that they tax the rich to the full extent but I expect that those companies will find ways around it or it will be half arsed at best to enforce it whilst us little companies are chased and fined for late payment of VAT & PAYE as we struggle to keep up with the cost of ... EVERYTHING. My wish list would include a VAT cut for all industries and an urgent cap on energy prices which would both make an actual difference day to day to our businesses that are on constant survival mode rather than trying to grow.

I've got a couple of things on my wish list for what I'd like the Chancellor to do. I'd like to see something similar to what they've had in the US in recent years, some kind of stimulus monies to encourage extra spending. This could be vouchers rather than money, so it had to be spent rather than saved. I'd also like to see a windfall tax on energy companies, and a wealth tax. I'm middle income and would be fine paying a bit more, but I'm absolutely sick of seeing this with nothing being asked to tighten belts further and those with everything coasting through without any worries. I wouldn't say the government has been too slow to act on the cost of living crisis. Because they haven't acted at all. They don't live in the real world or understand the issues people are facing, it's not a worry to them, they don't care. I don't expect anything to be announced today that will have an impact for the poorest in society. I'm a bit worried about my business, but I'm more worried that people will literally start dieing of hunger unless something tangible is done right now.

Be bold! Only a direct intervention into personal finances will help the cost of living crisis. Raising the personal allowance would have a direct impact on those suffering the most. It would immediately benefit their disposable income unlike many of the other proposals being mooted, whilst also being relatively straight forward to implement. Likewise it would also help many small businesses that are facing rising supply costs that they are unable to pass on in full, whilst facing spiralling wage demands from staff that are increasingly finding it difficult to maintain their living standards. Raising the personal allowance would have the same impact as a pay rise. Whilst there has been a lot of noise from the government about understanding the difficulties families up and down the country are facing there has been a significant lack of tangible action. What novel ideas came out of the brainstorming session?

Its no secret, cost of living is hitting those already struggling the hardest, yet these companies are making so much money they dont know what to do with it. Why not cap the profit these companies can make, lets face it the government arent going to reduce what they earn are they?

For me, what doesn't help is seeing headlines such as the wealthiness of the very chancellor that dictates our budget. I really do question his sincerity, as someone with a fortune of £730 million. It's all well and good suggesting a package to help us people of the country. The very people who work their arses to the bone , for a wage, that does nowhere touch this cost of living emergency, which it now is! With expected more price hikes of £800 in energy prices, at least a 40% rise, on top of the recent rising costs. How can someone with such financial stability, decide on the fate of us currently experiencing these costs, someone so far removed from a society that , on its knees over whether to eat or heat, this is ludicrous they have no idea. As the sole income earner, I work my arse off, just to keep up with the electricity, and you can forget about the gas, we just have to put on another layer! The government have been far too slow on actions to help the burden of this now emergency, it's actually embarrasing, considering we are apparently a part of, one of the richest nations in the world (Great Britain) As I struggle to see what else I can cut back on in my day to day living, as well as business costs, I'd like to see the Chancellor, implement windfall taxes on all who benefitted, especially ithroughout the pandemic. I would also like to see more help for the small businesses, that are fighting to hold there head above the waters, especially as they are a huge support to the economy, and many being without employees. I feel like I'm working solely to pay astronomical living costs, thankfully I work from home, although it is a space I am rapidly outgrowing!

THe devil lies in ANY detail of ANY proposal - the headlines will no doubt make it seem like the chancellor rides once again on his noble steed to "save" business - well not in my experience...once again I suspect small limited company directors will be excluded (it's becoming our "thing") and whilst a cut in VAT would help, we must do something about the rise in energy as this affects us all..surely an innovative system of tax that is directly released to support those in need isn't beyond the reach of our practical imaginations...it would at least deflect from "reports" elsewhere....